Mises Institute

The British North American Colonies Were Not Homogeneous Political Units

Jan 19, 2026
The podcast dives into the diversity of the original 13 British colonies, highlighting unique political and social outlooks. It explores the four waves of English settlement that shaped distinct regional identities. The Puritans in New England emphasized ordered liberty, while Virginia's Cavaliers favored local governance and tradition. Quaker influence in the Middle Colonies promoted religious and economic freedom. Finally, the Scots-Irish settlers prioritized autonomy and familial loyalty, illustrating the complex visions that influenced America's founding principles.
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INSIGHT

Colonies Shared Traits But Were Distinct

  • The thirteen colonies shared language and Protestantism but differed sharply in culture and politics.
  • David Hackett Fischer identifies four distinct settlement waves that shaped regional character and visions of liberty.
INSIGHT

Four Settlement Waves Shaped Regions

  • Fischer maps four major settlement waves shaping New England, the Chesapeake, the Delaware Valley, and the backcountry.
  • Each wave brought distinct social habits, religions, and attitudes toward power and freedom.
INSIGHT

New England's Ordered Liberty

  • New Englanders endorsed 'ordered liberty' that allowed community limits to secure the common good.
  • That communal vision later fostered progressivism and support for stronger central government.
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